Patent Application
20160328067
The present invention relates to an electronic apparatus including a touch panel and a pressure-sensitive sensor, and a method for controlling the electronic apparatus.
For designated countries which permit the incorporation by reference, the contents described and/or illustrated in the documents relevant to Japanese Patent Application No. 2013-272972 filed on Dec. 27, 2013 will be incorporated herein by reference as a part of the description and/or drawings of the present application.
There is known a touch display device including a touch-sensor module which detects an X-directional position and a Y-directional position, a pressure sensor which detects a Z-directional position expressed by touch pressure (for example, refer to Patent Document 1). The touch display device further includes an integration device which integrates an X-directional position, a Y-directional position, and a Z-directional position.
Patent Document 1:JP2013-161131 A
When the above-mentioned touch display device is connected to a computer with an operating system, it is necessary to newly develop a specialized device driver. For this reason, there is a problem of causing costs of the touch display device to become high due to an increase in development man-hours and lengthening of a development period.
An object of the present invention is to provide an electronic apparatus capable of reducing the costs by efficiently utilizing a conventional device driver and a method for controlling the electronic apparatus.
[1] An electronic apparatus according to the present invention is an electronic apparatus comprising: a touch panel; a panel unit which includes at least a cover member; at least one pressure-sensitive sensor which detects a pressing force applied through the panel unit; a touch panel controller which generates a data group which includes touch coordinate values detected by the touch panel and another value except the touch coordinate values; a sensor controller which generates a pressure value from an output value of the pressure-sensitive sensor; and a computer which includes at least a touch panel driver and to which the touch panel controller and the sensor controller are electrically connected. The electronic apparatus further comprises a rewriter which rewrites the other value of the data group to the pressure value.
[2] In the invention, the computer may further include an operating system to which the data group after rewriting of the other value to the pressure value is input.
[3] In the invention, the rewriter may be a filter driver which the computer includes. The filter driver may rewrite the other value of the data group after being output from the touch panel driver, to the pressure value.
[4] In the invention, the touch panel controller or the sensor controller may include the rewriter, and the rewriter may rewrite the other value of the data group before being input to the touch panel driver, to the pressure value.
[5] In the invention, the sensor controller may periodically output the pressure value to the computer.
[6] In the invention, the touch panel controller may send a signal to the sensor controller, and the sensor controller may output the pressure value to the computer on the basis of the signal from the touch panel controller.
[7] In the invention, the touch panel controller may send a signal to the sensor controller along with generation of the data group, and the sensor controller may periodically generate and update the pressure value and may output the pressure value to the computer when the signal is received from the touch panel controller.
[8] A method according to the present invention is a method for controlling an electronic apparatus includes a touch panel, a panel unit which includes at least a cover member, at least one pressure-sensitive sensor which detects a pressing force applied through the panel unit, and a computer which includes at least a touch panel driver and to which the touch panel and the pressure-sensitive sensor are electrically connected. The method comprises: a first step for generating a data group which includes touch coordinate values detected by the touch panel and another value except the touch coordinate values; a second step for generating a pressure value from an output value of the pressure-sensitive sensor; and a third step for rewriting the other value of the data group to the pressure value.
[9] In the invention, the method for controlling the electronic apparatus may comprise a fourth step for inputting the data group after rewriting of the other value to the pressure value, to an operating system which the computer includes.
[10] In the invention, the third step may be performed after the data group is input to the computer.
[11] In the invention, the third step may be performed before the data group is input to the computer.
[12] In the invention, the second step may include periodical outputting the pressure value to the computer.
[13] In the invention, the electronic apparatus may include: a touch panel controller which generates the data group; and a sensor controller which generates the pressure value. The touch panel may be electrically connected to the computer through the touch panel controller, and the pressure-sensitive sensor may be electrically connected to the computer through the sensor controller. The first step may include outputting a signal to the sensor controller by the touch panel controller, and the second step may include outputting the pressure value to the computer by the sensor controller on the basis of the signal from the touch panel controller.
[14] In the invention, the electronic apparatus may comprise a touch panel controller which generates the data group; and a sensor controller which generates the pressure value. The touch panel may be electrically connected to the computer through the touch panel controller, and the pressure-sensitive sensor may be electrically connected to the computer through the sensor controller. The first step may include outputting a signal to the sensor controller by the touch panel controller along with generation of the data group, and the second step may include periodically generating and updating the pressure value by the sensor controller, and outputting the pressure value to the computer by the sensor controller when the signal is received from the touch panel controller.
According to the present invention, the other value except touch coordinate values of a data group including the touch coordinate values detected by the touch panel is rewritten to a pressure value, therefore a touch panel driver of the computer can be used as it is. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce development man-hours, and shorten a development period, thus it is possible to reduce the costs of the electronic apparatus.
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
As illustrated in
The electronic apparatus 1 can display an image by the display device 40 (display function). In addition, in a case where an arbitrary position on the display is indicated by a finger of an operator, a touch pen, or the like, the electronic apparatus 1 can detect X and Y coordinates of the position with the touch panel 30 (position input function). Further, in a case where the panel unit 10 is pressed in the Z-direction with a finger of the operator or the like, the electronic apparatus 1 can detect the pressing operation with the pressure-sensitive sensors 50 (pressing detection function).
As illustrated in
For example, a shielding portion (bezel portion) 23, which is formed by applying white ink, black ink, or the like, is provided on a lower surface of the transparent substrate 21. The shielding portion 23 is formed in a frame shape in a region on the lower surface of the transparent substrate 21 except for a rectangular transparent portion 22 which is located at the center of the lower surface.
The shapes of the transparent portion 22 and the shielding portion 23 are not particularly limited to the above-described shapes. A decorating member which is decorated with a white color or a black color may be laminated on a lower surface of the transparent substrate 21 so as to form the shielding portion 23. Alternatively, a transparent sheet, which has substantially the same size as the transparent substrate 21 and in which only a portion corresponding to the shielding portion 23 is colored with a white color or a black color, may be prepared, and the sheet may be laminated on the lower surface of the transparent substrate 21 so as to form the shielding portion 23.
As illustrated in
The structure of the touch panel is not particularly limited thereto, and for example, a resistive-film-type touch panel or an electromagnetic-induction-type touch panel may be employed. Electrode patterns 312 and 322 described below may be formed on the lower surface of the cover member 20, and the cover member 20 may be used as a part of the touch panel. Alternatively, a touch panel prepared by forming an electrode on both surfaces of a sheet may be used instead of the two electrode sheets 31 and 32.
The first electrode sheet 31 includes a first transparent base material (substrate) 311 through which visible light beams can be transmitted, and first electrode patterns 312 which are provided on the first transparent base material 311.
Specific examples of a material of which the first transparent base material 311 is made include resin materials such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene naphthalate (PEN), polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer resin (EVA), vinyl resin, polycarbonate (PC), polyamide (PA), polyimide (PI), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), an acrylic resin, and triacetyl cellulose (TAC) and glass.
For example, the first electrode patterns 312 are transparent electrodes which are made of indium tin oxide (ITO) or a conductive polymer, and are configured as strip-like face patterns (so-called solid patterns) which extend in the Y-direction in
In the case where the first electrode patterns 312 are made of ITO, for example, the first electrode patterns 312 are formed through sputtering, photolithography, and etching. On the other hand, in the case where the first electrode patterns 312 are made of a conductive polymer, the first electrode patterns 312 can be formed through sputtering and the like similar to the case of ITO, or can be formed through a printing method such as screen printing and gravure-offset printing, or through etching after coating.
Specific examples of the conductive polymer of which the first electrode patterns 312 are made include organic compounds such as a polythiophene-based compound, a polypyrrole-based compound, a polyaniline-based compound, a polyacetylene-based compound, and a polyphenylene-based compound. A PEDOT/PSS compound is preferably used among these compounds.
The first electrode patterns 312 may be formed by printing conductive paste on the first transparent base material 311 and by curing the conductive paste. In this case, each of the first electrode patterns 312 is formed in a mesh shape instead of the face pattern so as to secure sufficient light transmittance of the touch panel 30. As the conductive paste, for example, conductive paste obtained by mixing metal particles such as silver (Ag) and copper (Cu) and a binder such as polyester and polyphenol can be used.
The first electrode patterns 312 are connected to a touch panel controller 81 (refer to
The second electrode sheet 32 also includes a second transparent base material (substrate) 321 through which visible light beams can be transmitted, and second electrode patterns 322 which are provided on the second transparent base material 321.
The second transparent base material 321 is made of the same material as in the above-described first transparent base material 311. Similar to the above-described first electrode patterns 312, the second electrode patterns 322 are also transparent electrodes which are made of, for example, indium tin oxide (ITO) or a conductive polymer.
The second electrode patterns 322 are configured as strip-like face patterns which extend in the X-direction in
The second electrode patterns 322 are connected to the touch panel controller 81 (refer to
The first electrode sheet 31 and the second electrode sheet 32 are attached to each other through a transparent gluing agent in such a manner that the first electrode patterns 312 and the second electrode patterns 322 are substantially orthogonal to each other in a plan view. The touch panel 30 itself is attached to the lower surface of the cover member 20 through the transparent gluing agent in such a manner that the first and second electrode patterns 312 and 322 face the transparent portion 22 of the cover member 20. Specific examples of the transparent gluing agent include an acryl-based gluing agent, and the like.
The panel unit 10 including the above-described cover member 20 and touch panel 30 is supported by the first support member 70 through pressure-sensitive sensors 50 and a seal member 60 as shown in
As illustrated in
The first electrode sheet 52 includes a first base material (substrate) 521 and an upper electrode 522. The first base material 521 is a flexible insulating film, and is made of, for example, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene naphthalate (PEN), polyimide (PI), polyetherimide (PEI), and the like.
The upper electrode 522 includes a first upper electrode layer 523 and a second upper electrode layer 524, and is provided on a lower surface of the first base material 521. The first upper electrode layer 523 is formed by printing conductive paste, which has a relatively low electric resistance, on the lower surface of the first base material 521, and by curing the conductive paste. On the other hand, the second upper electrode layer 524 is formed by printing a conductive paste, which has a relatively high electric resistance, on the lower surface of the first base material 521 so as to cover the first upper electrode layer 523, and by curing the conductive paste.
The second electrode sheet 53 also includes a second base material (substrate) 531 and a lower electrode 532. The second base material 531 is made of the same material as in the above-described first base material 521. The lower electrode 532 includes a first lower electrode layer 533 and a second lower electrode layer 534, and is provided on an upper surface of the second base material 531.
Similar to the above-described first upper electrode layer 523, the first lower electrode layer 533 is formed by printing a conductive paste, which has a relatively low electric resistance, on an upper surface of the second base material 531, and by curing the conductive paste. On the other hand, similar to the above-described second upper electrode layer 524, the second lower electrode layer 534 is formed by printing a conductive paste, which has a relatively high electric resistance, on the upper surface of the second base material 531 so as to cover the first lower electrode layer 533, and by curing the conductive paste.
Examples of a conductive paste, which has a relatively low electric resistance, include silver (Ag) paste, gold (Au) paste, and copper (Cu) paste. In contrast, examples of a conductive paste, which has a relatively high electric resistance, include carbon (C) paste. Examples of a method of printing the conductive paste include screen printing, gravure-offset printing, an inkjet method, and the like.
The first electrode sheet 52 and the second electrode sheet 53 are laminated through the spacer 54. The spacer 54 includes a base material (substrate) 541 and gluing layers 542 and 543 laminated to both sides of the base material 541. The base material 541 is made of an insulating material such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene naphthalate (PEN), polyimide (PI), polyetherimide (PEI), or the like. The base material 541 is attached to the first electrode sheet 52 through the gluing layer 542 and to the second electrode sheet 53 through the gluing layer 543.
A through-hole 544 is formed in the spacer 54 at a position which corresponds to the upper electrode 522 and the lower electrode 532. The upper electrode 522 and the lower electrode 532 are located inside the through-hole 544 and are faced each other. The thickness of the spacer 54 is adjusted so that the upper electrode 522 and the lower electrode 532 come into contact with each other in a state where no pressure is applied to the pressure-sensitive sensors 50.
In a non-load state, the upper electrode 522 and the lower electrode 532 may not come into contact with each other. However, when the upper electrode 522 and the lower electrode 532 are brought into contact with each other in advance in a non-load state, a problem, in which the electrodes do not contact with each other even when a pressure is applied (that is, an output of the pressure-sensitive sensor 50 is zero (0)), does not occur, and detection accuracy of the pressure-sensitive sensor can be improved.
In a state in which a predetermined voltage is applied between the upper electrode 522 and the lower electrode 532 and when a load from the upper side to the pressure-sensitive sensor 50 increases, a degree of adhesion between the upper electrode 522 and the lower electrode 532 increases in accordance with the magnitude of the load, and electric resistance between the electrodes 522 and 532 decreases. On the other hand, when the load to the pressure-sensitive sensor 50 is released, a degree of adhesion between the upper electrode 522 and the lower electrode 532 lowers and electric resistance between the electrodes 522 and 532 increases.
Accordingly, the pressure-sensitive sensor 50 is capable of detecting the magnitude of the pressure applied to the pressure-sensitive sensor 50 on the basis of the resistivity change. The electronic apparatus 1 in the present embodiment detects a pressing operation by an operator to the panel unit 10 by comparing an electric resistance value of the pressure-sensitive sensor 50 with a predetermined threshold value. In the present embodiment, “an increase in the degree of adhesion” means an increase in a microscopic contact area, and “a decrease in the degree of adhesion” means a decrease in the microscopic contact area.
The second upper electrode layer 524 or the second lower electrode layer 534 may be formed by printing a pressure-sensitive ink instead of the carbon paste, and by curing the pressure-sensitive ink. For example, a specific example of the pressure-sensitive ink includes a quantum tunnel composite material which utilizes the quantum tunnel effect. Another example of the pressure-sensitive ink includes, for example, a pressure-sensitive ink containing conductive particles of metal, carbon or the like, elastic particles of an organic elastic filler, inorganic oxide filler or the like, and a binder. The surface of the pressure-sensitive ink is uneven with elastic particles. The electrode layers 523, 524, 533, and 534 can be formed through a plating process or a patterning process instead of the printing method.
In a plan view, when a distance from the center of the panel unit to each of the pressure-sensitive sensors varies, sensitivity of the sensitive sensor closer to the center of the panel unit may be lowered. Specifically, a combined resistance value of the second circuit described later may be decreased or the pressure-sensitive sensor may be made not to bend easily so as to lower sensitivity of the pressure-sensitive sensor.
An elastic member 55 is laid on the first electrode sheet 52 through a gluing agent 551. The elastic member 55 is made from an elastic material such as a foaming material or rubber material. Specific examples of the foaming material constituting the elastic member 55 include, for example, a urethane foam, a polyethylene foam, and a silicone foam each of which has closed cells. Further, examples of the rubber material constituting the elastic member 55 include a polyurethane rubber, a polystyrene rubber, and a silicone rubber. The elastic member 55 may be laid under the second electrode sheet 53. Alternatively, the elastic members 55 may be laid on the first electrode sheet 52 and also under the second electrode sheet 53.
By providing the elastic member 55 to the pressure-sensitive sensor 50, the load applied to the pressure-sensitive sensor 50 can be dispersed evenly throughout the detecting part 51 and detection accuracy of the pressure-sensitive sensor 50 can be improved. When the support member 70, 75, or the like is distorted or when the tolerance of the support member 70, 75, or the like in the thickness direction is large, the distortion and tolerance can be absorbed by the elastic member 55. When excess pressure or shock is applied to the pressure-sensitive sensor 50, damage or destruction of the pressure-sensitive sensor 50 can also be prevented with the elastic member 55.
The structure of the pressure-sensitive sensor is not particularly limited to the above. For example, as in the pressure-sensitive sensor 50B shown in
Instead of the pressure-sensitive sensor having the structure explained above, for example, an electrostatic capacitance type sensor, a pressure-sensitive conductive rubber, a piezoelectric element, a strain gauge, or the like may be used as the pressure-sensitive sensor. Alternatively, a Micro Electro Mechanical Systems (MEMS) element of a cantilevered shape (or a both-ends supported shape) having a piezo-resistance layer may be used as the pressure-sensitive sensor. Alternatively, a pressure sensor having a structure of sandwiching polyamino acid material having piezoelectricity between insulating substrates each having formed with an electrode by screen printing may be used as the pressure-sensitive sensor. Alternatively, a piezoelectric element utilizing polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) having piezoelectricity may also be used as a pressure-sensitive sensor.
As with the elastic member 55, a seal member 60 is also made of an elastic material such as a foaming material, rubber material or the like. Specific examples of the foaming material forming the seal member include, for example, a urethane foam, a polyethylene foam, a silicone foam, or the like each of which has closed cells. Further, examples of the rubber material forming the seal member 60 include a polyurethane rubber, a polystyrene rubber, a silicone rubber, and the like. By placing such seal member 60 between a cover member 20 and the first support member 70, inclusion of foreign substances from the outside can be prevented.
Preferably, the elasticity modulus of the elastic member 55 is respectively higher than the elasticity modulus of the seal member 60. In this way, pressing force can be accurately transmitted to the pressure-sensitive sensor 50 and detection accuracy of the pressure-sensitive sensor 50 can be improved.
As shown in
As illustrated in
A through-hole 431 is formed to the flange 43. The through-hole 431 faces a screw hole formed on the rear surface of the first support member 70. As shown in
Like the first support member 70 described above, the second support member 75 is made of, for example, a metal material such as aluminum or the like, or a resin material such as polycarbonate (PC), ABS resin, or the like. The second support member 75 is attached to the first support member 70 through a gluing agent so as to cover the rear surface of the display device 40. Instead of the gluing agent, the second support member 75 may be fastened with a screw to the first support member 70.
As shown in
The touch panel module 80 includes the touch panel 30 and a touch panel controller 81 electrically connected to the touch panel 30.
The touch panel controller 81 includes, for example, an electrical circuit or the like including such as a CPU. The touch panel controller 81 periodically applies a predetermined voltage between the first electrode patterns 312 and second electrode patterns 322 of the touch panel 30, detects a position (an X-coordinate value and a Y-coordinate value) of a finger on the touch panel 30 on the basis of a variation in electrostatic capacitance at each intersection between the first electrode patterns 312 and the second electrode patterns 322, and outputs the X and Y coordinate values to the computer 100.
When a value of the electrostatic capacitance becomes a predetermined threshold value or more, the touch panel controller 81 detects that a finger of the operator came into contact with the cover member 20 and notices a touch-on to the computer 100. When a value of the electrostatic capacitance becomes less than a predetermined threshold value, the touch panel controller 81 detects that a finger of the operator became untouched from the cover member 20 and notices a touch-off to the computer 100. When the touch panel controller 81 detects that the finger of the operator approaches the cover member 20 within a predetermined distance (a so-called hover state), the touch panel controller 81 may notice a touch-on.
The sensor module 90 includes the pressure-sensitive sensors 50 and a sensor controller 91 electrically connected to the pressure-sensitive sensors 50.
Like the touch panel controller 81, the sensor controller 91 includes, for example, an electrical circuit with a CPU or the like. The sensor controller 91 functionally includes, as shown in
As illustrated in
In a state in which a predetermined voltage is applied between the electrodes 522 and 532 by the power supply 921, when a load from an upper side to the pressure-sensitive sensor 50 increases, an electrical resistance value between the electrodes 522 and 532 varies in accordance with the magnitude of the load. The acquisition part 92 periodically samples an analog signal of a voltage value, which corresponds to the resistance variation, from the pressure-sensitive sensor 50 at a constant interval, converts the analog signal into a digital signal with an A/D converter 925, and outputs the digital signal to the setting part 93 and the first calculation part 94.
As shown in
Here, the maximum working load of the pressure-sensitive sensor 50 means a maximum value within a designed usable load range set to the pressure-sensitive sensor 50 installed in an electronic apparatus 1, which is, for example, 8 [N]. The maximum working load of the pressure-sensitive sensor 50 may be set to the load at the point when a resistance value of the pressure-sensitive sensor 50 decreases by 50 [Ω] while the load applied to the pressure-sensitive sensor 50 increases by 1 [N].
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
The sensor controller 91 may include correction means which corrects an output value OPn of the acquisition part 92 using a correction function g(Vout). When the acquisition part 92 includes a circuit shown in
In the expression (1), Rfix is a resistance value of the first fixed resistor 922, Vin is an input-voltage value to the pressure-sensitive sensor 50 (that is, an applied voltage by the power supply 921), Vout is an output value obtained by the acquisition part 92, Vout′ is an output value after correction, “k” is an intercept constant of the pressure-sensitive sensor 50, and “n” is an inclination constant of the pressure-sensitive sensor 50.
The values of “k” and “n” are calculated by measuring a resistance value of the pressure-sensitive sensor 50 at a plurality of load points and performing curve-fitting to the following expression (2) using the measured values.
[Expression 2]
R
sens
=k×F
−n (2)
The expression (2) is an empirical expression representing characteristics of the pressure-sensitive sensor by utilizing pressure dependency of contact resistance.
In the expression (2), Rsens is a resistance value of the pressure sensitive sensor 50, and “F” is a load applied to the pressure-sensitive sensor 50.
The correction function g(Vout) is a function obtained by replacing an output variable Vout of the pressure-sensitive sensor 50 with a corrected output variable Vout′ of the pressure-sensitive sensor 50 and also replacing the applied-load variable F to the pressure-sensitive sensor 50 with an output variable Vout in an inverse function f−1(F) of an output characteristic function f(F) of the pressure-sensitive sensor 50. In other words, the correction function g(Vout) in the expression (1) is an expression obtained by solving the following expression (3) for the applied-load variable “F” by deformation of the expression (3).
Here, the output characteristic function f(F) of the pressure-sensitive sensor 50 is a function which represents the relationship between the applied-load variable F and the output variable Vout of the pressure-sensitive sensor 50 and can be represented by the following expression (3). On the other hand, the inverse function f−1(F) is an inverse function of the output characteristic function f(F) for the applied-load variable F and the output variable Vout, and can be represented by the following expression (4).
When a touch-on signal is input from a sensor module driver 104 (described later) of the computer 100, a setting part 93 sets, as a reference value OP0, an output value OPn of the pressure-sensitive sensor 50 at the time of or immediately before the detection of the contacting (that is, an output value OPn sampled at the same time of or immediately before the detection of the contacting). The setting part 93 is provided for each pressure-sensitive sensor 50 and sets the reference value OP0 for each pressure-sensitive sensor 50.
The reference value OP0 also includes 0 (zero). When the touch-on signal indicates that approaching of the finger to the cover member 20 within a predetermined distance is detected, the setting part 93 sets, as the reference value OP0, an output value OPn of the pressure-sensitive sensor 50 at the time of or immediately after the detection of the approaching (that is, an output value OPn sampled at the time of or immediately after the detection of the approaching).
The first calculation part 94 calculates a first pressure value Rn1, which is applied to the pressure-sensitive sensor 50, in accordance with the following expression (5). As is the case with the setting part 93, the first calculation part 94 is also provided to each pressure-sensitive sensor 50, and calculates the first pressure value pn1 for each pressure-sensitive sensor 50.
[Expression 5]
p
n1
=OP
n
−OP
0 (5)
The selection part 95 selects the minimum value among four reference values OP0 which are set by the four setting parts 93, and sets, as a comparison value S0, the minimum reference value.
The correction part 96 calculates a correction value Rn of each pressure-sensitive sensor 50 in accordance with the following expressions (6) and (7), and corrects the first pressure value pn1 of the pressure-sensitive sensor 50 by using the correction value Rn . As is the case with the setting part 93 or the first calculation part 94, the correction part 96 is also provided for each pressure-sensitive sensor 50, and corrects the first pressure value pn1 for each pressure-sensitive sensor 50. The value p′n1 in the following expression (7) represents a first pressure value after correction.
Here, as illustrated in
Specifically, as illustrated in the same drawing, when pressing is initiated from a first initial pressure P1 which is small, the output value of the pressure-sensitive sensor 50 varies by a first variation amount ΔV1. In contrast, when pressing is initiated from a second initial pressure P2 greater than the first initial pressure P1 (P2>P1), a variation occurs by only a second variation amount ΔV2, and the second variation amount ΔV2 is narrower than the first variation amount ΔV1. (ΔV2<ΔV1).
A different initial pressure may be applied to the four pressure-sensitive sensors 50 provided to the electronic apparatus 1 due to the posture of the electronic apparatus 1, and the like. According to the above-described reason, the first pressure value pn1 , which is calculated by the first calculation part 94, greatly depends on the initial pressure of each pressure-sensitive sensor 50.
In contrast, in the present embodiment, since the first pressure value pn1 is corrected by using the correction value Rn to reduce an effect of the initial pressure with respect to the first pressure value pn1 , it is further possible to improve detection accuracy of the pressure-sensitive sensor 50.
As long as the selection part 95 selects any one value among reference values OP0 as a comparison value S0, the selection part 95 may select, for example, a maximum value among the reference values OP0 as the comparison value S0.
A method of correcting the first pressure value pn1 by the selection part 95 is not particularly limited to the above-described method as long as the further the reference value OP0 is greater than the comparison value S0, the larger the first pressure value pn1 is corrected, and the further the reference value OP0 is smaller than the comparison value S0, the smaller the first pressure value pn1 is corrected.
The second calculation part 97 calculates, as a second pressure value pn2 which is applied to the cover member 20, the sum of first pressure values after correction p′n1 of the four pressure-sensitive sensors 50 in accordance with the following expression (8).
[Expression 8]
p
n2
=Σp
n1′ (8)
The sensitivity adjustment part 98 performs sensitivity adjustment for the second pressure value pn2 in accordance with the following expression (9) to calculate a final pressure value Pn. The pressure value Pn calculated with the expression (9) is output to the computer 100. In the following expression (9), kadj represents a coefficient for adjustment of an individual pressure difference of the operator, which is stored in advance, for example, in a storage part (not illustrated in the drawing) of the touch panel controller 81, and can be accordingly set depending on the operator.
Although not illustrated in drawings, a selector may be interposed between the four pressure-sensitive sensors 50 and a sensor controller 91. In this case, the sensor controller 91 is only required to include each one of an acquisition part 92, a setting part 93, a first calculation part 94, and a correction part 96.
The computer 100 is an electronic calculator including, although not particularly illustrated in drawings, a CPU, a main memory device (RAM or the like), an auxiliary storage device (a hard disk or an SSD, etc.), and an interface, etc. As shown in
The operating system (OS) 101 is a basic program for controlling and operating the computer 100. The application 102 is a program which operates in the computer 100 and performs a specific function by utilizing a function provided by the operating system 101.
The touch panel driver 103 is a program to directly control the touch panel module 80. The touch panel driver 103, after receiving a data group from the touch panel module 80, outputs the data group to the touch panel filter driver 105.
The format of a data group to be input to the touch panel driver 103 is predetermined. For example, a format shown in the following expression (10) is set.
[Expression 10]
(X,Y,φ) (10)
In the above input format, “X” is an X-coordinate value of a touched position on the touch panel 30, “Y” is a Y-coordinate value of the touched position on the touch panel 30, and the X-coordinate value and the Y-coordinate value of the touched position in the present embodiment correspond to an example of the touch coordinate values of the present invention. Also, “φ” is, for example, another value other than (except) the X and Y coordinate values of a touched position, such as a touch width, a touch height, a reserved region or the like, or a null value. The number and order of data constituting the input format which the touch panel driver 103 requires are not particularly limited to the above.
The sensor module driver 104 is a program to directly control a sensor module 90. The sensor module driver 104 receives the pressure value Pn from the sensor module 90 and outputs the pressure value Pn to a touch panel filter driver 105.
The touch panel filter driver 105 rewrites a part of the data group output from the touch panel driver 103, to a pressure value Pn output from the sensor module driver 104. Specifically, in the above example, “φ” of a data group (X, Y, φ) is rewritten to a pressure value Pn. The touch panel filter driver 105 outputs the rewritten data group (X, Y, Pn) to an application 102 through the operating system 101.
For example, when the data group (X, Y, φ) is (809, 205, 0) and the pressure value Pn is 120, the touch panel filter driver 105 rewrites the data group to (809, 205, 120). In the present embodiment, “rewriting of a part of a data group” also includes rewriting of a null value of the data group to a pressure value Pn, in other words, writing (overwriting) of the pressure value Pn to the null value.
Further, as shown in
In this case, the data group (X, Y, φ) is output to the sensor controller 91 from the touch panel controller 81, the conversion part 99 of the sensor controller 91 rewrites “φ” of the data group (X, Y, φ) to a pressure value Pn, the rewritten data group (X, Y, Pn) is output to the touch panel driver 103 from the sensor controller 91. The conversion part 99 of the sensor controller 91 of the present embodiment corresponds to an example of the rewriter of the present invention.
Instead of the touch panel filter driver 105, as shown in
In this case, a pressure value Pn is output to the touch panel controller 81 from the sensor controller 91, the conversion part 82 of the touch panel controller 81 rewrites “φ” of the data group (X, Y, φ) to a pressure value Pn, the rewritten data group (X, Y, Pn) is output to the touch panel driver 103 from the touch panel controller 81. The conversion part 82 of the touch panel controller 81 in the present embodiment corresponds to an example of the rewriter of the present invention.
In the following, control contents of the electronic apparatus in the present embodiment is described with reference to
In the present embodiment, when a finger of an operator contacts a cover member 20 while the operating system 101 of the computer 100 is in operation, the touch panel controller 81 notices a touch-on detection to the touch panel filter driver 105 through the touch panel driver 103 (step S10 in
Next, the touch panel filter driver 105 notices a touch-on event to the sensor module driver 104 (step S20 in
On the other hand, the acquisition part 92 of the sensor controller 91 periodically obtains an output value OPn of each of four pressure-sensitive sensors 50 in a state where the operating system 101 of the computer 100 is in operation, and periodically outputs the output value OPn to the setting part 93 and the first calculation part 94. Further, the setting part 93 periodically updates the reference value OPn until the touch-on signal is received from the sensor module driver 104 (step S40 in
Then, when the sensor controller 91 receives the touch-on signal from the sensor module driver 104, the setting part 93 sets, as the reference value OP0, the output value OPn sampled immediately before the detection of the contacting (step S50 in
The sensor module driver 104 sends a pressure value acquisition command to the sensor controller 91 after sending the touch-on signal (step S60 in
In other words, the first calculation part 94 first calculates a first pressure value pn1 from the output value OPn and the reference value OP0 in accordance with the expression (5) above (step S71 in
Next, the selection part 95 sets, as a comparison value S0, the smallest value among the four reference values OP0 (step S72 in
Then, the correction part 96 calculates a correction value Rn of each pressure-sensitive sensor 50 in accordance with the expression (6) above (step S73 in
Following this, the second calculation part 97 calculates the sum of the first pressure values after correction p′n1 of the four pressure-sensitive sensors 50 in accordance with the expression (8) above to determine a second pressure value pn2 (step S75 in
Then, the sensitivity adjustment part 98 calculates a final pressure value Pn by performing sensitivity adjustment of the second pressure value pn2 in accordance with the expression (9) above (step S76 in
The pressure value Pn calculated as above is output to the touch panel filter driver 105 through the sensor module driver 104 (step S80 in
Although not particularly illustrated in drawings, the data group (X, Y, φ) is output to the touch panel filter driver 105 from the touch panel controller 81 through the touch panel driver 103. Then when the pressure value Pn is input to the touch panel filter driver 105 from the sensor module driver 104 in step S80 in
The touch panel controller 81 periodically obtains an X-coordinate value and a Y-coordinate value of the touched position from the touch panel 30 while contact of the finger with the cover member 20 continues, and for each time, sends a touch-continuation signal together with the data group (X, Y, φ) to the touch panel filter driver 105 through the touch panel driver 103 (step S110 in
On the other hand, the sensor controller 91 periodically calculates and updates the pressure value Pn in the manner described in the steps S71 to S76 above while contact of the finger to the cover member 20 continues (step S140 in
Then, as in the steps S90 to S100 above, the touch panel filter driver 105 rewrites “φ” of the data group (X, Y, φ) output from the touch panel driver 103 to a pressure value Pn (step S170 in
On the other hand, when a finger of an operator becomes untouched from the cover member 20, the touch panel controller 81 sends a touch-off detection signal to the touch panel filter driver 105 through the touch panel driver 103 (step S190 in
Then, the touch panel filter driver 105 notices a touch-off event to the sensor module driver 104 (step S200 in
Subsequently, when the sensor controller 91 receives the touch-off signal from the sensor module driver 104, the sensor controller 91 releases the settings of the reference value OP0 and the comparison value S0, and also, the setting part 93 periodically updates the reference value OP0 until the touch-on signal is received from the sensor module driver 104 (step S220 in
As above, in the present embodiment, a part (“φ”) of the data group (X, Y, φ) generated by the touch panel controller 81 is rewritten to a pressure value Pn, thus the touch panel driver 103 of the computer 100 can be used as it is. As a result, it is possible to reduce development man-hours and shorten a development period d, thus it is possible to reduce the costs of the electronic apparatus 1.
In the present embodiment, since the acquisition part 92 of the sensor controller 91 includes an A/D converter 925 and the pressure value Pn is digitalized before input to the computer 100, rewriting operation of the data group by the touch panel filter driver 105 can be simplified.
In the present embodiment, while the touch of the finger to the cover member 20 continues, the touch panel controller 81 periodically obtains X and Y coordinate values of the touched position. Accordingly, the sensor controller 91 also periodically outputs a pressure value Pn from the computer 100. Thus, the electronic apparatus 1 in the present embodiment can detect operation of the finger which does not accompany X- and Y-directional finger movement (for example, operation of strengthening or weakening of the pressure at a point).
The above-described embodiment is described for easy understanding of the invention, and is not intended to limit the invention. Accordingly, respective elements, which are disclosed in the above-described embodiment, are intended to include all design modifications or equivalents thereof which pertain to the technical scope of the invention.
For example, in the embodiment, a configuration in which the panel unit 10 includes the touch panel 30 is described. However, the configuration is not limited thereto as long as the panel unit 10 includes the cover member 20. For example, the touch panel 30 may be configured separately from the panel unit 10 such as by arranging the touch panel 30 on the display device 40 apart from the cover member 20.
The touch panel of the present invention is not particularly limited as long as it detects a coordinate value. For example, a touch sensor which detects a coordinate value is included to the touch panel of the present invention.
In the above-described embodiment, the pressure-sensitive sensors 50 are disposed at the four corners of the electronic apparatus 1, but there is no particular limitation thereto. For example, in a case where the pressure-sensitive sensor is constituted by using an electrostatic capacitance type sensor, the pressure-sensitive sensor may include a sheet-shaped electrostatic capacitive sensor and a transparent elastic member which is provided on the electrostatic capacitive sensor, and the pressure-sensitive sensor may be interposed between the touch panel 30 and the display device 40 with the transparent elastic member disposed on a touch panel 30 side. The pressure-sensitive sensor has substantially the same size as the touch panel 30, and is laid on the entirety of the rear surface of the touch panel 30. In the electrostatic capacitive sensor, a plurality of detection regions are divided, and the sensor controller 91 obtains a detection result from each of the plurality of detection regions. In this case, since the touch panel 30 and the display device 40 are fixed through the pressure-sensitive sensors, screws 44 for fixing the display device 40 to the first support member 70 are not required (refer to
10: Panel unit
20: Cover member
30: Touch panel
40: Display device
50, 50B: Pressure-sensitive sensor
60: Seal member
70: First support member
75: Second support member
80: Touch panel module
90: Sensor module
100: Computer
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013-272972 | Dec 2013 | JP | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/JP2014/084302 | 12/25/2014 | WO | 00 |
